Australia tigthened grip over Sri Lanka; Jaques, Hussey hit repeat centuries

HOBART, Australia, Nov 16, 2007 (AFP) – Phil Jaques and Mike Hussey scored back-to-back Test centuries as Australia took a vice grip on the second cricket Test with Sri Lanka after the opening day’s play at Bellerive Oval here Friday. Australia named an unchanged side while Sri Lanka recalled Lasith Malinga and fit-again Kumar Sangakkara, […]

‘s Union Assurance doubles earnings

Nov 15, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s Union Assurance said net profit for the September quarter shot up 107 percent year-on-year to 29.6 million rupees. . General and life insurance premiums for the quarter grew by 17 percent to 1.1 billon rupees from 971 million rupees in 2006, according to interim results announced by the […]

Forging Ahead

Nov 15, 2007 (LBO) – Commercial Bank of Ceylon has reported a net profit growth of 30 percent to 1.1 billion rupees in the quarter ended September 2007 with foreign exchange earnings almost doubling to 519 million rupees. Total revenues grew 56 percent to 9.4 billion rupees, with net interest income also keeping pace at […]

Heavy Pull

Nov 15, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka Shipping has announced its tugs have won contracts to tow international rigs on lengthy voyages. One tug has been deployed in the Middle East while another is underway moving a rig from Kakinada in India to Singapore. “Sri Lanka Shipping Co. was contracted to tow the rig ‘Transocean […]

Car Carriers

Nov 15, 2007 (LBO) – The Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) is planning a multi-storied car park and special tariffs at the Colombo port to encourage vehicle transshipment from India, an official said.Transshipment of vehicles from India, which is positioning itself as a small-car making hub, has been growing through Colombo. “The Port of Colombo […]

Sri Lanka apparel makers design a way up the value chain

Nov 14, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s apparel makers are making inroads into design, collaborating closely with international brands to becoming an integral link in the supply chain of a fashionably evolving global industry. Sri Lanka’s top apparel makers stepped into the design stage of garments about five years ago, but are now getting deeper […]

Sri Lanka wildlife park no go zone for Britons

Nov 14, 2007 (LBO) – Britain has advised its citizens not to travel to the popular Yala wildlife park in southern Sri Lanka after a spate of killings and explosions suspected to have been carried out by Tamil Tiger guerrillas. “We advise against all travel to Yala National Park,” a travel advisory issued by Britain’s […]

Bank Number

Nov 14, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka’s National Development Bank (NDB) net profit for the September rose 45 percent to 298 million rupees, with a deferred taxation adjustment helping counter higher provisions for bad loans. Total group income for the quarter increased to 2.6 billion rupees from 1.7 billion rupees, according to interim results filed […]

Fresh Start

Nov 14, 2007 (LBO) – One of the youngest stockbrokering firms in Sri Lanka, which started as a unit of the First Capital Group is now operating as an independent entity as a with the group selling out its stake. First Capital Equities is formally changing its name to First Guardian Equities from today, the […]

Sri Lanka to take action against Marvan after second test

Nov 13, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lanka would take action against batsman Marvan Atapattu after the second test with Australia, a top official said. Sri Lanka Cricket interim chief Jayantha Dharmadasa told LBO that the decision was taken Monday. Atapattu was quoted by the media as saying that Sri Lanka’s cricket selectors were a “set […]

Sri Lanka media hit by Australian agency blackout; fears of anti-Murali conspiracy

Nov 13, 2007 (AFP) – Sri Lanka fears missing out on hero Muttiah Muralitharan’s feat of becoming the greatest ever wicket taker in Test cricket because of an ongoing dispute over media access. Master spinner Muralitharan needs just seven wickets to overtake retired Australian and fellow spinner Shane Warne’s world record tally of 708. Muralitharan […]

Sri Lanka power firm warns of time lag

Nov 13, 2007 (LBO) – A power investor says it may take more than two years to set up a thermal plant if it was given the go ahead now, after Sri Lanka’s power minister said the state electricity utility was seeking additional capacity. . “If we were given the go ahead now, it may […]

Page 977 of 1355